Another Choice
Chapter 6

(Selina)

Damn, he is going to kill me! I don't care it's what he needs. And it's not like he could really kill me. I mean he's only a werewolf and I'm a Lycan. But am I ready to lose a friend? But I'm his friend and I need to help him. It's what real friend do and if that is not working, I will give up and let him leave his life as he wants. Still, I don't think all this anger against Melissa is healthy. Yeah, her name was Melissa, Tom's mate.

"Hey S!" Tom says entering my apartment without knocking as he was at home. It's not as if I didn't try to make him move with me.

"Hello, Stranger! Long time, no see." I reply.

"We met two days ago and why do you keep saying to me that?"

I shrug: " Because I want to."

"So what's up? Why did you want to see me?"

"We need to go somewhere..." I say, evasive.

"Is it a new mission?"

"Sort of... Not exactly."

Let's do it before I'm chickening out. I sent a message to Lana to ask her to send her in the Dark Shadow Pack. We are an old cinema.

"Where are we? Why a cinema." He asks me.

"Because I need to show you something and you would have come if I have told you."

"Today is her birthday, Melissa. She would have been 24 years. Today there is a tribute for her and we are going."

"You can't force me!" He hisses, angry that I trick him.

"I will if I have. It's time to face it."

"I hate you!" He says in fury.

"And I love you enough to sacrifice our friendship if that means you start to leave again. So do I have to order you?"

"Fuck you! And don't you ever dare to speak to me, ever!" He says entering and sitting in the back of the room.

Come on, Selina, it will worst it. I tell myself in reassurance. A movie of her life is projecting with pictures, videos of her and testimonies from her family and friends. It's very well done and very touching. There a video of her where she speaks directly to her future mate, Mister imperfectly perfect as she called him. She was a great girl with a gold heart. She would have been a great Luna and would have made Tom, the happiest man in the world. This is so sad, my heart broke again for him but hated her with no reason was not the solution. She had a voice and he needed to hear it. I know I forced him but it was almost 7 years ago.

Tom leaves the cinema ignoring me totally. Hopefully one day he will forgive me. Mom always says that be the Queen means to take the right decision even if it's difficult and it's isolated you. You have to do what you have to for the best. And I know I overstep our friendship, it was the right choice. I can't be sorry for what I have just done and I'm not. I don't think I should wait after him, so let's go home.

I'm in the castle for dinner. My big brother Duncan and his mate Harper just announced their pregnancy. Mom and Dad were so happy even if dad complained about the fact he is too young to be called grandpa. There are still tensions between them and me but it always has been family first. So tonight we forget everything and act like everything is fine. And this is so refreshing. It's nice to have all the family here, my sisters Adele and Angelina and brothers Ducan and Anakin.

There is also Grandpa Chris, uncle Darius, and aunty V and their children Emily and James. James who is Adele's mate. Darius is my mother's adopted brother and when they discovered that James and Adele were mates, Mom and Grandpa Chris laugh so hard that I thought they would never stop. Something about Karma apparently.

On this other side, Uncle Alec and auntie Ainhoa are here too with Alexis and Alban, their two sons. Alec is my father's brother. And as you can see in my father's family every name has to start with an A. Thank goddess, I avoided it! They made a deal with the Moon Goddess for my father to be able to mark my mother first but not where he wanted.

Uncle Aiden, my mother's real brother is not here. They are close but he always feels out of his place in this kind of family reunion. Mom says he should stop to punish himself for his passed errors but still, he always replaces a lamb excuse not to come. Too bad because I would have like to see my cousins Kaiden and Julia.

Anyway, I had a great time with everyone and as the dinner finished late my parents proposed for us all to sleep here. I'm currently in Adele's room as she sharing a room with James. I can't sleep in my room, not after what happened there. The imagines are imprinted in my memory forever. I can't go there yet. It's too hard.

Mom is knocking at the door. I recognize her sweet smell.

"Hey, sweetie. You're not sleeping in your room?"

"I would rather not."

" Okay."

"I know what I see. I'm not crazy!"

"I know." She says caressing my hair.

"Still, you're not believing me." I say dashed.

"I know you see them in your bed. I just don't know if it was real or not."

"So you don't believe me."

"No, it's not what I said. As the future Queen, you're a target. People want to be your friends for the wrong reason, they will tell you what you want to hear but they will also stab you in the back if it deserved their causes. Trues friends are rares and you have to choose them wisely because if you're wrong not only you will be betrayed and hurt but you will always have to pay a very high price. Everyone is looking at you and they want you to prove them you are strong enough to face that."

"So it's a test?"

"Yes and no. Yes and this is why as the Queen I can't intervene because if I do I will make you appear weak and we both know you're not. And let me tell you that as your mother it's killing me. No, because the threat you are facing is real. I don't know who is behind this but all the things happened lately are not a coincidence. So I need you to be careful and to shield yourself."

"So what do I do?"

"Find who is behind this and kill them!" Dad says entering the room.

"Thank you for the short cut, my love!" Mom says sarcastically.

"You were too long and you're not the only one who is missing her." He replies.

"You really have to learn patience!" Mom says shaking her head.

"But I'm right!" Dad says.

"Yes, you're! But Selina you need to be careful because all eyes are on you, analyzing and judging all your actions."

"And don't forget we love you and we will have your back even if it doesn't seem like that in front of everyone." Dad says.m in reassurance.

My mother takes out her bracelet and gives it to me. "It's a magical bracelet when you turn that gem, it will hide you and immune you to magic."

"Thank you! I love you both so much!"

Dad looks at mom and screams: " Selina's sandwich!" And they both hug me.

"You're crazy! And people never questioned your ability to be our Queen and King." I laugh.

"We should let you sleep now." Dad says kissing my forehead.

"Wait, I have a question. How do you know if you're a Lycan's mate?"

"What do you feel when you see your mate?" Mom asks.

"Like he is the biggest asshole in the world."

"Wrong example, my soul. You know one word from you and I will kill him." Dad says.

"I know maybe another day." I reply smiling.

"Why did you ask? What do you want to know exactly?" Dad asks.

"I don't know I could really see Emily and Tom together. She says something that made me think they could be perfect for each other.” I explain.

“You can’t know for them. Only they will feel the pull if they are mates.” Dad replies.

“I know. It’s just that it’s so unfair how he lost his mate so soon, too soon. I wish for him to replace another happiness.”

“I know, it’s not fair but unfortunately we don’t have any power about that.” My father says.

“Speaking about Tom, when was the last time you spoke to him? Aiden told he’s ignoring them for almost two months now.” My mom asks.

“What?!” I say not able to construct an all sentence.

“Melinda feels he’s still alive but he is blocking everyone out, including her and her magic. He has a talisman like the bracelet I just gave you.” She explains.

“I need to replace him!” I say getting up.

“It’s too late my princess, you will have to wait tomorrow.” Dad says not letting place for an argument.

*****

I didn’t sleep at all last night. I was too worried about Tom. After looking for him everywhere I finally replace him... Where I wasn’t expecting, I have to say. He’s in the cemetery. He’s visiting Melissa’s grave every day after the sunset. He spoke a few times with her family, mainly her little sister but he comes every day so late to be alone. And here I am, asking if I should go or not. Does he still hate me? At this idea, my heart is hurting. He is kneeling in front of her grave. He’s so alone, I need to be here for him. As I walk towards him, I make enough noise for him to sense my presence. I touch his shoulder but he doesn’t react. I can see pain literally shining out of him.

“I’m so sorry. I wish I could take your pain away.” I whisper on the verve to cry.

As he still ignores me, I add: “ I can leave if you want me to.”

He’s still not answering so I sigh and prepare myself to leave but He catches my hand on his shoulder and whispers “Stay.”

"I can't do this alone." He says after a few more minutes of silence.

"You don't have to. I'm here and I will be here as long as you need." I reply.

Then he put his head on my belly and starts to cry. I pass my hands in his hair and let him cry. He needs to let it out. When he finally calms down he asks me: "How do you where to replace me?"

" It was the obvious place to look for you... After I broke in your apartment, checked all the bars in your city and tracked your phone." I honestly reply and that makes him laugh.

"You're the only one you can make me laugh in this circumstance."

"I missed you. I can't imagine my life without you in. I don't know how to explain it."

"But there is something in me that's calling you. I know I feel the same way." He replies.

"I will not lie and say you're totally forgiven but I needed that. I needed a kick in my ass. You forced me to feel all sorts of emotions I didn't want to but I would have never pushed myself to go through that even if it was necessary." He adds.

"I know and I'm sorry for hurting you but not for doing it." I reply.

" I need someone to help me to go through this. I need you to be this someone for me. I will not feel guilty if I snap at you. My family suffers enough because of me, so I will not ask them."

"And I will be glad to do it for you. I don't care how much time you will be hard with me if you keep moving."

"It will be a small step by small step." He says.

"I don't care, a step is a step, small or big. I think you don't want to move with me." He shakes his head." Then call me anytime you need."

"I swear."

"Perfect! And I swear to always answer your call."